Charging of Calls Forwarded to a Voice Mailbox

Whether a phone call is connected depends on whether the terminal of the called party has sent an "answering signal". Under normal situation, the "answering signal" is automatically sent when the receiving party picks up the call. The operator immediately starts counting the airtime. However, on some occasions, the receiving party may possibly be a fax machine, a voice mailbox, or an interactive voice response system or the calls may have already been diverted to these telecommunications equipment. Under such circumstances, when you call that number, your call is automatically connected or forwarded and a communication mode is then established, triggering off the transmission of an "answering signal". Although you do not have actual voice communications with the receiving party, this call is regarded as connected and you will be charged for the call even though you may have hung up immediately.